Celebrating Bastille Day in Cebu

The French national holiday, known as the Bastille Day, celebrated annually on the 14th of July, has such a strong significance for the French, as well as the rest of the freedom loving world.  It commemorates the infamous storming of the Bastille, a Parisian prison that served as a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of the Ancient Regime of Louis the 16th. The event has been marked in history and has become firmly established as an ultimate symbol of French nationhood.

 In celebration of France’s 219th national holiday, Michel and Amparito Lhuillier, whose roots trace back to France together with Louis Thevenin, director of Les Amis de la France, a French cultural institute in Cebu, hosted a well-attended sit-down dinner at the Pino restaurant.

 Guests of Honor French Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Chesnel and his Indonesian wife Ning flew in from Manila for this event. Their daughter Kirana, presently studying in Paris, was present as well.

 Joel del Prado, managing director of the restaurant,  tirelessly took charge of the well-orchestrated menu that consisted of salmon with cream cheese, salami trumpet with stuffed olives, cheeses such as chevre (goat cheese), Brie de Meaux, and  Roquefort (blue cheese), and parma ham. Seafood on ice had lobsters, prawns, oysters complemented with cocktail sauce, shallot vinegar and avocado fan.

 Delectable dishes were displayed in several stations. There were beans with garlic, Mediterranean seared vegetables in red wine and baked potatoes. Roasted French Rack of Lamb and roasted U.S. Prime Rib Eye took center stage at the carving stations. These were paired with a variety of sauces from peppercorn to mushroom, mint jelly and capered lemon butter sauce.

 Long time resident of Cebu, former French Honorary Consul Richard Fourteau was on hand to say goodbye to the French community as he embarks on a new foreign post. To bid him adieu and Godspeed were Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, First Lady Margot Osmeña, fellow members of the diplomatic corps Honorary Consul of Spain Jaime Picornell and Honorary Consul of the United Kingdom Moya Jackson.

 The highlight of the evening was the proclamation of Michel Lhuillier as the new Honorary Consul of France by Ambassador Chesnel. This is truly a well deserved appointment mainly due to Lhuillier’s all out support to various projects  that cultivate and enhance  French culture, most note worthy is the founding of Les Amis de la France, of which he is president.

 Entertainment was provided by Rhea Mae Judilla and Rhina Rose Echevarri who interpreted some classic French love songs.

It was an evening of celebration especially for the French citizens proclaiming once again Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite (liberty, equality and fraternity).